Remember when disaster flicks were all the rage? What was your favorite? If I'm not mistaken, didn't Earthquake actually have the sensation of your theater seat shaking? Don't know my favorite. Jaws was really something at the time but then so were the others.


While listening to the radio this morning, the commentator noted that the top three disaster films of 1974 were:

3. Airport
2. Earthquake
1. The Towering Inferno


Anyway, I found this link listing disaster films pre 70's as well. Many I have not seen and some I wouldn't necessarily categorize as a disaster film, but still, it might be fun to discuss. Do you think these films would be blockbusters today?

TIS



Disaster films

My favorite disaster film was probably Independence Day.

I think there's always going to be a market for disaster films.

Ive always enjoyed watching the original The poseidon adventure as a kid..

Wasn't too keen on the remake though..

Well, TIS, the author of the article provided himself with the broadest interpretation of disaster films. But I agree with his definitions: not just mega-effects films, but those that imply disaster (like "On the Beach").
I'm an old-timer: I like the original "War of the Worlds," and "Godzilla."

The Towering Inferno was always a favourite of mine!

Yeah mine too..

Aside from the truly cheesy dialogue, it was a fun film simply to see all the stars in it. Granted most of them were in the twilight of their careers, but still, an all-star cast like that is always fun.

Truly cheesy dialogue always makes a film for me

Yogi, if you like truly cheesy dialog, you'll love "The Ten Commandments."

Oh yes TB, another colossal classic of pure cheesiness

I love disaster films. Towering Inferno, because how can you not love a film with Steve McQueen AND Paul Newman?? The fire was NOT the hottest thing!

And Earthquake? I remember seeing it in the movies and waiting for the theater to shake.

I remember watching this movie in the theatre with my brothers and sister. I was 10 or 11 and thought that it was the greatest movie ever made.

I watched The Hindenburg (1975) tonight via my Netflix box. I unfortunately don't know the actual history of it all -- a disaster that happened just 15 minutes from me in the '30s (haha! I wrote 30's first!) -- and while this seemed kinda plausible, I don't know. All I know is that I wasn't very impressed by the film itself, despite the fact it starred George C. Scott and Anne Bancroft.

BTW, as you ALL should know... Earthquake (1974) was co-written by Mario Puzo... and is the movie Marta was watching in Scarface

Earthquake employed "Sensur-round Sound" or something like that, so that you were actually supposed to "feel" the earthquake while you were watching. I honestly don't remember if it actually worked, but I do remember that it was quite loud.

What? Well slap my face and call me stupid. I didn't know that. Or, if I did I forgot. Wow, I wouldn't have guessed it. Interesting tidbit.

TIS

Good trivia question: In what movie did Newman and McQueen first appear in together?

Biggest disaster movie of them all: Disaster Movie (2008) -- One star for portraying Sarah Jessica Parker as a tranny... another for the genre (spoofs). Okay, so that's 2 out of 10. That may even been too many for this hunk of shit....

I remember something similar when i went to see "BATTLE OF THE MIDWAY" at the cinema as a young chap. When the planes started their engines,the sound reverberated around the cinema and i nearly shit myself!!

Nearly,not quite

I love the Towering Inferno, and the Posiedon Adventure, but Earthquake was one of the worst I've ever seen. Also, the best spoof of Disaster Movies ever, "Airplane!"

I sure hope that these idiots will stop making spoof movies. I mean really when have they ever done one that is actually decent?